Authors in Canada respond to legal challenge from Education Ministers

IAF member The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) has called on provincial ministries and school boards engaged in legal action against the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) to withdraw their suit and pay compensation for creative content copied in Canada’s schools. The ministries of education and school boards involved have claimed that they are exempt from paying the copyright fees owed and are demanding a refund of approximately 25 million Canadian dollars.

John Degen, Chair of the IAF and TWUC’s executive director has said “Given its weak legal footing, this lawsuit amounts to scare tactics and intimidation. It has no hope of success. Provincial politicians simply want to drag this issue through the courts, hoping that legal expenses will cripple writers and publishers, forcing a settlement. They are ignoring the Copyright Board, and trying to cut costs at the expense of fair pay to Canadian writers.”

The International Authors Forum is concerned that the Canadian government is taking such significant steps to avoid paying for the use of authors work. Authors around the world support copyright systems that enable a fair balance between access to content alongside remuneration for the creators of content. To attempt to ignore these principles and disadvantage authors in this way is both unacceptable and shortsighted.